Lubricator.



C. R..BRIGGS.

LUBRIGATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. z8, 1909.

978,81 9. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. R. BRIGGS.

LUBRIoA'ron.

' ,APPLIOATION FILED 001:28, 1909.

978,819. Patented Dec.13,1910..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CAIRL ROBERTS BRIGGS, OF RAVENNA, OHIO.

LUBnIcA'roR. 4

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL R. Barcos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ravenna, in the 'county-ofPortage and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and use- -ful Improvementsin Lubricators, of which the following is a specication, reference being had .to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in grease pumps and more particularly to a device of this character which is adapted to be utilized as a lubrcator for the steam chests and piston cylinders of locomotives.

The primary'object of the invention is to provide a 'steam actuated pump disposed within a reservoir containing lubricating material, and connected to an engine cylinder for-'the utilization ofthe steam to reciprocate the pump pistons.

Another object is to provide a grease pump disposed within a tank or reservoir mounted above the engine cylinder, the opposite ends of saidpump having communication with the corresponding ends of thev V4engine cylinder and adapted to alternately receive steam therefrom whereby the lubrieating material will be discharged in a liquid state from the pump to the main line steam pipe whence it is carried together with the steam to the steam chest. l

A further object is to provide a steam ac-. tuated grease pump comprising a cylinder having a plurality of steam and grease "chambers, and a reciprocating piston within each of said chambers, said pistons being vconnected for simultaneous reciprocatory movement in a common direction and adapted to discharge the lubricating Huid from the grease chambers through suitable cony yducting pipes, suitable means being provided for preventing the congealing of the liquid before it is discharged into the steam pipe to be carried tol the cylinder steam chest. f

A still further lobject is to provide suitable means for providing an air cushion for the reciprocating 'steam pistons, and means disposed through the ends of the pump cylinder. whereby the extent of the reciprocatory movement of the pistons may be regulated at will.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and

' lSpecication of Letters Patent.

` bers.

Application led October 28, 1909. Serial No. 525,082.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which* l Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine cylinder, showing the tank or reservoir arranged above the same, said reservoir being and the heating tu e disposed within the conducting pipe; andy Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section of the air valve.

Referring to the drawings 5 lindicates the engine cylinder, and 6 the steam chest which is adapted to supply steam thereto, a suit-- able slide valve being arranged in said chest to intermittently admit steam to the opposite ends of the cylinder and reciprocate the piston 7 which is arranged therein. rihe steam is admitted to the valve chest from a main supply pipe 8. j

Support-cd above the cylinder in any suitable manner there is a tank or reservoir 9. This reservoir is adapted to contain grease or other lubricating fluid which is adapted to be supplied to.the steam chest to prevent undue friction resultant from the sliding movement of the valve therein. ln order to properly supply this lubricating Huid in suiiicient quantities, it is Vessential that the lubricant should be maintained within the reservoir at a required consistency at all times so that it will freely flow through the conducting pipes to the steam pipe whence it is carried to the steam chest. To this end I provide a cylinder 10 which is suitably supported withinthe reservoir 9 and is divided'by means of the heads 11 into two isolated steam chambers 12. These chambers are disposed in the opposite ends of the cylinder and betweenthe heads 11 another head 13 is centrally secured within the cylinder and provides a grease chamber or compartment 14 on the opposite sides thereof between the heads l1 and 13. A piston 15 is mounted in each of the steam chambers 12, and a similar piston 16 is likewise disposed in each of the grease or fluid cham- The pistons 15 and 16 are connected by the rods `17 which extend and move through the heads 11. The pistons 16 are also connected by a cylindrical portion 18 which extends through the head 13. Thus Patented pee. 13,1910.

the engine cylinder.

y valve seat.

the piston heads areconnected to each other for simultaneous reciprocatory movement in a commondirection within the cylinder. To prevent the entrance of grease from the chambers 14 into the steam chambers 12, the stutling boxes 19 are provided and surround the piston rods 17. These boxes may be of any approved construction.

A steam pipe 21 extends from each end of the engine cylinder 5 to the corresponding end of the pump cylinder 107 communicating with the steam chambers 12. Thus as the cylinder piston 7 is reciprocated by th'e entrance of steam into the opposite ends of the cylinder 5, live steam on either side of the piston will traverse the pipe 21 on that side and be forced through this comparatively contracted passage alternately into one of the steam chambers 12. During this movement of the steam it attains an extreme velocity and impinges upon the piston 15 moving the same to the opposite end of the steam chamber 12.

As the pistons 15 and 16 are connected to each other, it will -be obvious that' they will be simultaneously moved intheir respective 'chambers and that the other of the pistons 15 will then be'sdisposed in position to receive the impact of the steam admitted to that end of the pump cylinder upon the reverse movement of the engine plston. The steam which was previously admitted to the other of the end chambers 12 is exhausted from said chamber by the reverse movement of the pistons 415, and discharged back into This exhaust steam will be partially condensed in its return to the engine cylinder, the waters of condensation eing drained off from each end of the cylinder through suitable pipes 5 communicating therewith as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In order to obviate the liability' of the disruption of the various parts from the shock or jar incident to the reciprocatory motion of the piston, I provide an adjustable air valve 22. As shown this valve comprises a threaded shank having a knurled head on its outer end. This shank has threaded engagement through the bottom of the oil reservoir and is formed witha conical extremity which'has seated engagement in a similarly formed seat 23 in the wall of the cylinder 10. An air passage24 extends through the shank and head and has its"iniier end laterally directed to discharge the air current to one side of the opening 25 in the As this shank is screwed outwardly or inwardly, it will be seen that the distance between the end thereof and the valve seat will be proportionately'increased or decreased and greater or less space for the movement of the air permitted, whereby the rapidity of its entrance and'discharge to and from the steam chamber may be regulated as desired. These air inlets td the steam chambers are preferably located adjacent'to the heads 11, 'and are adapted to provide a cushion for the istons 15 to absorb the shock or jar which is occasioned by the expansive action of the steam thereon during their reciprocatory movement.

In order to regulate the supply of lubricating fluid, suitable means must be provided for regulating the reciprocatory movement of the pistons so that a greater or less amount of iuid may be discharged from the pump. This result I accomplish by providing the adjusting screws 26 which are disposed through the stuffing boxes 27 on the opposite ends of the reservoir 9 and have threaded engagement in the opposite ends of the pump cylinder 10. Thus as the pistons 15 and l16 are reciprocated in the cylinder, the ends of the rods 17 will be engaged with the inner ends of the screws 26 and limit such reciprocatory movement. The impact of t-.he rods 17 with the screws will be cushioned by' the air which has been drawn into the steam chambers through the air valves 22, whereby the liability of violent shock being limparted to the pump cylinder and' probable inju to the various parts thereof, will be avoide As the pistons 16- are reciprocated within their respective chambers, the lubricating oil is discharged therefrom and conveyed through suitable f'onducting pipes to the main steam pipe which extends to the steam chest. This action takes place inthe follow'- king manner: The oil enters the chambers 14 through the openings 28 in the cylinder wall, and as the pistons 16 move in the chambers, this oil is forced therefrom through one of the pipes 29 in which a ball valve 30 is interposed and prevents the back pressure of the lfluid into the pipes.` At .their upper ends these pipes 29 are merged into one aterally extending conducting'pipe 31 which extends exteriorly of the oil reservoir and is con-l nected at its outer end to the steam pipe 8.

sov

Owing to the fact that the lsteam chambers 12 a'rehighly heated by the steam therein it will kbe obvious that the lubricating'oil will be maintained at a uniform consistency within the vicinity of the pump cylinder so that it will freely flow through the openings 28 and enter the .grease chambers. The rapidity of the discharge of the lubricating fluid is controlled by the valve gearing which in turn controls the admission of the steam to the engine cylinder,- and as the amount of oil discharged from the chambersv with each' reciprocation-of the piston may be regulated by adjusting the screws 26, it will be apparent that the exact amount of lubricanty which should be supplied to the steam chest is at all times maintained in relation to the rapidity of operation of the engine.

To prevent the fluid from congealing in the pipe l after moving eXteriorly of the` reservoir, I provide the tube 32 longitudinally disposed in the outer end of the plpe B1. This tube provides what is in effect a contracted portion of the conducting pipe, although it is inclosed Within the same. The

secured to the inner Wall of the pipe 31. Thus a portion of the steam in the pipe 8 will enter the' pipe 31 and circulate around thetube 32 through which the oil passes.

In -this manner the maintenance of the proper fluid state of the oil is insured and as it is discharged from the end of the tube,

it is taken u'p by the s team in its passage and carried in minute particles to the steam chest and thoroughly lubricates the sliding valve disposed therein and renders its operation accurate and positive Wit-hout unnecessary friction.l

From the foregoing it Will be seen that a pump constructed as above set forth is especially desirable for lubricating purposes andas the necessary'power to operate the same is obtained from the cylinder of the engine, it will be obvious that the cost of maintenance and operation is extremely small.

The various elements included'in the construction of the device are easily assembled in operative position,.there being no delicate mechanical elements employed so that the device Will not be liable to disarrangement of the parts in operation.

'Ihe pumping action is absolutely positive and a constant supply of the lubricating fluid to the steam chest of the engine is assured under all conditions. I

The arrangement and combination of the elements above described, define What is the preferred embodiment of my invention, although it Will be understood that numerous minor modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the essential features or sacriicingany of the advantages of the invention and. I reserve the right to makey such changes'as may fairly fall Wit-hin the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a steam actuated lubricating pump, the combination of a cylinder having a plurality of steam chambers and fiuid chambers, said cylinder being' supported Within a reservoir adapted to contain a lubricating fluid, a piston disposed in each of said chambers, said pistons 4having simultaneous reciprocatory movement in a common direction, means for alternately admitting steam to said steam'chambersfmeans disposed in the opposite ends of said cylinder for regulating the length of stroke of the pistons, dischargeV pipes communicating with the fluid chambers, each of said pipes havingva check valve interposed therein and adapted to alternately receive the fluid from said vchambers upon the reciprocatory movement of said pistons, means extending 'through the bottom-of said reservoir and the. cylinder Wall adapted to admit air to the steam chambers to cushion the pistons therein at the ends of ,their strokes, the' steam in said steam chambers being adapted to retain'the lubricating fluid at the proper consistency, and means disposed within said dischargepipes to provide a heated passage for the fluid.

' 2. In a steam actuated lubricating pump,

the combination of a cylinder having a steamv chamber in its opposite ends, a head arranged centrally in the cylinder dividingy t-he intermediate portion thereof into tWo separated fluid containing chambers, said cylinder being mounted Within a reservoir adapted to contain the lubricating fluid,

inlet openings to said kfluid chambers, a pisvton disposed in each of the steam and iluid chambers, said pistons having simultaneous reciprocatory movement, supplypipes com'- municating with the outer ends of the steam chambers adapted to supply steam alternately thereto, the steam 1n saidchar'nbers being adapted to heat the cylinder and retain the lubricating Huid at a uniform consistency, discharge pipes extending through the Wall-,of the cylinder and communicating With said chambers on opposite sides of the central head arranged therein, the reciprocatory movement of the pistons being adapted to alternately force the lubricating fluid into said pipes, means disposed through said reservoir and the ends of the cylinder 'to regulate the length of stroke of the pistons and determine the amount of lubricating fluid discharged, said dischargepipes being connected at their outer ends to form ar single conducting pipe extending laterally through said reservoir, a steam supply pipe for said cylinder, said conducting pipe being connected thereto,-and a tube disposed concentrically Within the conducting pipe exteriorly of the reservoir, the end of said tube extending into said steam pipe, the steam therefrom entering the conducting pipe and circulating around the tube to heat the same and maintain the lubricant in a fluid state.

3. The combination With an engine cylinder and steam chest, said chest having a steam supply pipe communicating there- With, of a reservoir supported above said cylinder, a pump cylinder arranged in said reservoir, a plurality of reciprocating p1stons in said cylinder, said cylinder having steam chambers in its opposite ends, the intermediate portion' of the cylinder being adapted to receive the lubricating fluid contained in said reservoir, the pistons Within said cylinder having simultaneous` recipro- `catory movement,

steam supply pipes communicating with the steam chambers and with the engine cylinder, said pipes being adapted to receive the steam from said cylinder upon the reciprocation of the engine piston and to alternately discharge the same into said steam chambers, a discharge pipe communicatingV with the fluid chamber, a check valve interposed in said pipe, said pipe extending exteriorly of the reservoir and communicating at its outer end With the steam lsupply pipe of the steam chest, and means disposed Within the exterior portion of said pipe to provide a passage for the lubricating fluid and receive a portion of the steam from said pipe to maintain the lubricant in a fluid state. v

4. The combination With an engine cylinder and valve chest, and a supply pipe communicating With-said chest, of a reservoir supported above said cylinder, a pump cylinder arranged Within said reservoir, said c linder having steam chambers in its oppo- A`site ends, Athe intermediate portion of said cylinder having a plurality of fluid chambers formed therein, each provided With an inlet opening'to receive the lubricating fluid containedwithin the reservoir, steam supply pipes communicating with the outer ends of the steam chambers and with the engine cylinder, said pipes being adapted to convey the steam from the 4engine cylinder and alternately discharge the same into said chambers, a piston disposed in each of said with the steam supply chambers, said conducting pistons being connected for simultaneous reciprocatory movement, means for regulatin the length of stroke of the pistohs, a discharge pipe communicating with each fluid chamber of, said cylinder i and adapted to alternately receive the lubricati-ng fluid upon the reciprocation of said pistons, a check valve interposed in each of said pipes, said pipes communicating at theirouter ends with a laterally extending pipe, said pipe extending eX- the reservoir and communicating ip e of the valve chest, a tube concentricaly arranged in the exterior portion of said pipe adapted to provide a contracted passage for the lubricant, the steam from the supply pipe exteriorly lo tending into the conducting pipe about said tube to maintain the lubricant in a fluid state.

45. The combination with an engine cylinder and valve chest, and a steam supply pipe communicating with said valve chest, of -a reservoir supported abo@ the cylinder, a pump cylinder arranged Within said reservoir, said cylinder having steamgchainbers in its opposite ends, pipes connectin said steam chambers with the engine cy inder and adapted to alternately discharge steam from said cylinder `into said chambers, pis- 'tions disposed in said steam chambers, a

Wallthereof to receive the central head secured in said cylinder dividing the intermediate portion thereof into two fluid chambers, pistons disposed in each of said chambers, rigid connections between each of said pistons, each of said fluid chambers having an inletopenin through the uid contained Within said reservoir, an air valve disposed through the bottom of the reservoir and through the cylinder Wall at the inner end of each of the steam chambers, said valves being adapted to regulate the air supplied to said steam chambers and to exhaust the same therefrom whereby an air cushion is provided for the stroke of said pistons, a discharge pipe communicating With'the fluid chambers adjacent to the central head, the outer ends of said pipes being connected to a laterally positioned conveying pipe, f

means for regulating the stroke of said pistons to determine the quantity of fluid discharged, said conducting pipe extending exteriorly of the reservoir and communieating with the steam supply pipe of the valve chest., said, conveying pipe having a contracted passage therein extending into the steam pipe, the steam from said lattei` pipe circulating about said passage whereby the lubricant will be maintained in a fluid state.

6. The combination With an engine cylinder and steam chest, and a steam supply pipe communicating with said chest, ot' a reservoir-supported above said cylinder, a pump cylinder arranged in said reservoir provided With fluid and steam receiving chambers,l a steam supplyypipe communicating IWith each of the last named chambers and with the engine cylinder, a dischar e pipe communicating With each of -th'e uid chambers, reciprocatory pistons in said chambers adapted to dischar e the lubricating fluid alternately throng said discharge pipes, said ydischarge pipes being connected and extending to the steam supply pipe and means in said discharge pipe for discharging the oil intov the' path of the steam and permitting of the entrance of the steam ,intoy said steam` pipe tomaintain the lubricant in a fluid state.

7. The combination vwith an. engine cylinder andvalve chest, and a steam supply pipe communicating with said Valve chest, of a reservoir supported above the cylinder,

`a pump cylinder arranged Within said reservoirsaid cylinder having a steam chamber in each end and intermediate fluid receiving chambers, each of said fluid chambers having an inlet opening through the Wall thereof, a piston disposed in each of said chambers, a pipe connecting each of said steam chambers with the engine cylinder and adapted to alternately discharge steam from said cylinder into said chambers,a discharge pipe communicating `with each of Xthe fluid ioo chambers adapted to alternately receive fluid upon the reciprocation of said pistons, a conducting pipe connecting said discharge pipe extending eXteriorly of the reservoir, the end of said conducting pipe being disposed in the steam supply pipe of the valve chest and adapted to discharge the lubricant into the path of the steam and means for heating said conducting pipe eXteriorly of the reservoir to maintain the lubricant in a fluid state.

8'. The combination of an engine cylinder and valve chest, and a steam 4supply 'pipe communicating With said valve chest, of a reservoir supported above the cylinder, a pump cylinder arranged Within-#said reser- Voir, said cylinder having -a plurality of heads therein to provide separate' chambers, pistons in said chambers connected to each other for simultaneous reciprocatory movement, means adjustable through the end heads of said cylinder and the walls of vcommunicating with the the reservoir to regulate the stroke of said pistons, means for admitting the steam alternately into', the end chambers of the pump cylinder from the engine cylinder, the inter# mediate chambers of said pumpcylinder being adapted to receive lubricating fluid from the reservoir, a iuid conducting pipe communicating With 4each of said intermediate chambers adapted to alternately receive the fluid therefrom upon the reciprocation of said pistons, said pipe steam supply pipe of the valve chest, and means Within said conducting pipe to maintain the lubricant in a fluid state.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the presence of ,tWo Witnesses.

CARL ROBERTS BlitIGrGrS. Witnesses: f

H. L. BETTY, A. SEIBEL. 

